What some are calling a "cenote" has appeared in the middle of the Playa del Carmen-Cancun highway today at around four in the morning. The sinkhole suddenly appeared according to reports and caused the total collapse of a twelve meter section of the road in both directions. The situation reportedly caused chaos as all four lanes of the highway have been affected. The road dropped about 2.5 meters in an area of cenotes, or natural sinkholes hear the Hotel Iberostar. It is estimated that some 3.5 tons of asphalt was displaced. Reports indicate that one person sustained minor injuries. Authorities have been working to restore traffic and have suggested alternate routes.
Important information for those travelling via Cancun Intl Airport.
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Cancun, Q.R. - The Federal Highway between Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos remains closed due to the collapse of the road. A large portion of the highway has collapsed, leaving a hole of 10 meters wide and approximately one meter deep. The closure of the highway has caused massive traffic congestion for locals as well as travelers trying to get to the Cancun International Airport.
The Federal Highway between Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos remains closed due to the collapse of the road.
COLLAPSE OF FEDERAL HIGHWAY CAUSING MAJOR PROBLEMS
A large portion of the highway has collapsed, leaving a hole of 10 meters wide and approximately one meter deep. The closure of the highway has caused massive traffic congestion for locals as well as travelers trying to get to the Cancun International Airport.
Eduardo Rivadeneira N��ez, a spokesman for Aeropuertos del Sureste (Asur), said "The counters that are open three hours early for international flights and two hours early for domestic as well are doing well."
People are advised to use the alternative Xcan- Playa highway route to get to Cancun while work is being done to repair the main Federal highway. Although some light vehicles are being allowed to pass, authorities are urging people to use the alternate highway to reach Cancun.
Francisco Elizondo Garrido, Chief of the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (SCT), reported that they have negotiated with the ICA Group of the new Xcan-Playa del Carmen highway and have agreed to cancel the road tolls for this emergency.
"ICA agreed to cancel payment for this emergency", confirmed the governor.
Director of the Cancun International Airport, Carlos Trueba Coll, said that all the airlines are aware of road collapse and are trying to add additional flights to accommodate affected passengers.
In the meantime, ADO is continuing with its Playa to Cancun airport transfers. They said that due to the collapse of the road, they are rerouting their buses to use the alternate route but there will not be an increase in fares. ADO passengers are asked to take into consideration the additional 40 minutes of travel time it will take to reach the airport. Both ADO terminals in Playa del Carmen will continue to offer their usual Cancun airport service, leaving every 15 minutes.
The sinkhole in the highway was reported at about 2:30 on Thursday morning. Work has begun on repairing the road.
More HERE
For those tourist and Belizeans travelling from Corozal to Cancun note that a portion of the Playa Del Carmen/Cancun highway has collapsed behind the Hotel Mayan Palace/Iberostar. Please exercise caution when travelling to this area right now.
A detour has been provided through the Nuevo Xcan-Playa Del Carmen highway.
We wish to share our immediate actions taken in conjunction with our Federal Government to mitigate the collapse of the Playa Del Carmen/Cancun Highway.
1: SCT has cancelled the toll fee collection on the Nuevo Xcan-Playa del Carmen route
2: Currently one lane for the eventual passage of vehicles is enabled
3: The detour is suprevised by a joint operation with the PF and Public Safety
4: Cancun Airport director has spoken to all the airlines in order to enable all their counters and streamline the operation
5: The SCT is taking the necessary machinery to temporarily rehabilitate the collapsed section
6: It is exploring the possibility that people have to take their flights to arrive at the scene and walk pass and be received for a second transport to take them to the airport in Cancun
Note: The detour on the map is highlighted in blue.